Three Things + 1 : Lots of Love (and giveaways)

We have an extended celebration on Valentines Day because my husband's birthday is the day before!
We like to celebrate quietly with a meal of favorites, then we indulge with chocolate fondue for our treat. I help my daughter make handmade valentine's for her class and I pack her a special lunch. We also make valentines for residents in a nursing home nearby.
I'm really liking these ideas of the mailbox or a note taped to the door!

We actually don't celebrate Valentine's day until the 21st, since that was the first date my husband and I went out together. It's kind of a tradition in our family, and we'll probably continue it even when our kids get older. We do always make valentines though for the kid's friends.

My husband and I exchange cards and for my girls they get a small box of chocolate and a card. We make a special dinner for all four of us to enjoy. Pictures are taken throughtout the evening to create a wonderful scrapbook page.

My bf isn't much of a Valentine's celebrator, but I think that any day that celebrates love is good in my books!
We didn't do much last year ( i think I worked actually). So this year, I'm gonna try and make it special. He'll get his first little surprise card with his toothbrush ( a card I made). We're going out for Valentine's Day Brunch since dinner is so busy. Since we're on a strict budget, and homemade means more, I'm making a quilt out of all his old shirts, jeans and stuff so we can cuddle on the couch together with a good movie and the kittens.

It has been a tradition to make carmel apples covered in white chocolate and cinnamon and sugar, we call them apple pie apples and give them to our family and closest friends attached with a handmade valentine of course...this year I'm really hoping for a romantic night with just me and my husband, I think love is such a fantastic thing to celebrate.

We don't have a family tradition yet. Andrew and I normally go out for a romantic dinner. But, now that little man is two and we will have a little girl to help us celebrate next year, we really need to figure out a fun family-oriented tradition.

We consume a whole lot of really good chocolate. Vday is a month into the New Years diet so it's like an island of indulgence that we look forward to, then it's back on the treadmill.

Okay, maybe I'm disqualified because I'm a big party pooper but Valentines day is a materialist construct designed to rope unsuspecting lovers into buying $20 roses for $50!!! My husband and I love eachother but have agreed to ignore this holiday... also our anniversary! But birthdays and christmas stay! And presents are ALWAYS welcome! (just not between approx. Feb 5 and Feb 20)

I {love} the little MM tickets. so cute. For Valentines Day we usually have a party with my sisters kids. We maked heart shaped whatever we can think of food. One year it was sloppy joes :) We always have heart shaped jello. We will do a little vday craft. We made VDay cards for my brother one year after he moved away. And for my kids, I will give them a little present in the morning. This year it will be itunes gc because they each now have an ipod, and a webkinz and a book signed by an author (since I manage a bookstore :)). Last year we went overboard with the valentines. I sewed up linen bags with hearts on them for each kid in each of my kids' class. Then filled them with a picture of one of my children (for whichever class) holding a "HAPPY VALENTINES DAY" sign, and made homemade caramels for them. Not sure what the plan is this year though :)

Hi Ali,
I just love your blog. You are so inspiring. I have to say I've gone through ups and downs about Valentine's Day. It used to be my absolute favorite holiday because it reminded me of those fun little bags we got to make in grade school and handing out those cute little valentine's. Then I got my heart broken a few time and that changed. But a couple of years before my Dad died I had started buying him a chocolate rose and it became tradition. Unfortunately, he passed away at the end of February in 2004 and I was never able to get him his chocolate rose... so it was buried with him. It was a very sad time in my life and made me not like Valentine's Day again, but I've now transferred the tradition to my hubby... afterall I want him to know how much I love and care for him and am thankful for him now while he's here. So what better day than Valentine's Day to remind him how much he means to me. I think losing my Dad when I did made me realize how important it is to be appreciative of what you have right now! And each Valentine's Day I buy an extra chocolate rose... and eat it just for Dad! Happy Valentine's Day to all....

I start the day off with some little Valentines goodies for my daughters (now 5 & 19 months) Big sister helps me find red foods for lunch and snacks (usually strawberries, red peppers & cherry yogurts) Dinner is usually a heart shaped pizza eaten by candlelight. Then on the weekend, my husband and I will go out for dinner while the girls get some grandma time.

My husband and I don't usually do anything special for Valentine's Day. We are just like that with most special occasions. However, I always buy him a box of candy and I also buy a box of candy for our kids and give them money.

I exchange gifts with my fiancé (make a card for him myself, of course) and we go to a restaurant or to see a movie.

We don't do much for Valentines Day.
This year I am headed to a local grocery store that sells bulk candy.
My plan is to fill a bag full of random candies for each of my kids. In their favorite colors of course. My Kathryn gets Pink and Blue, and my Caedmon gets all shades of orange.
My hubby always gets our daughter a rose for V-Day. Other then that we don't do much of anything.

The most important thing is to remind each other how much we love one another, whether just with words, cards, etc. I have always requested that my husband not give me flowers on valentine's day. I'd rather be surprised on a random day with flowers, it just seems to have more meaning that way.

We start the morning off with heart-shaped pancakes. My boys each receive a card and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. This year I'll be adding mini heart-shaped cakes to the mix. The hubs and I usually exchange cards and call it good.

I celebrate with our kids in their parties at school!

The kids and I make cards together during the day. At night my husband brings home pizza and we all snuggle on the house watching a fun movie. Simple but so fun!!

I have three children who still live at home. Two girls and one boy. At Christmas, my husband buys all of his "girls" a box of Godiva Chocolates...I get the big one and the girls each get a smaller version of the delicacy.
For Valentines day two years ago, I got my son a box of Godiva's of his very own. I had no idea how special that little gesture would be. Of course we all share all the chocolates, but he really felt special when he woke up to his very own box to share. The girls get something else which makes his chocolates all the more special.

Each year is different but usually includes a special dinner with just the two of us or we include someone who is alone. Sharing the fun of Valentine's Day with someone alone adds that extra special touch of love to the day.